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Sir Neville Cardus once said, cricket is a game of glorious uncertainties, unless there is a Bradman.
True.... And it was reflected on Sunday's match betwen Eagles and United. With fortunes fluctuating over to over, it was left
to the few nerves of steel to overcome the trapidation of the match.
A beautiful sunday morning and a good entertaning cricket was all everyone asked for.
The Eagle Captain's decision to bat first was not initially supported well by his team mates, when the score book read 33 for 5
in 8 overs. There was a certain amount of "20/20 game effect" rubbing on to the players as everyone seems to be in a hurry
playing shots and getting out.
Punter's slow dipping yorker sealed the fate of Mahmood as his castle was rocked in the second ball of the game. The in-form
and dependeble Jigar was out the very next bowl when a questional LBW decison was given. But no amount of justification
can be given when a batsman plays across. The captain Khalid joined the young Abhishk and the team was looking forward
to a real good partnership from these two experienced players to sail the ship thru the wreck. However a loose shot from
Khalid saw his fall and this was indeed a major blow to the team - both morally and statistically.
Ali joined Abhishek and now it was upto the young guns of the team to exhibit what they are capable of. And they did to a
great extend till Abhishek played across the line to give the umpire have another chance to raise his index finger. The first ball
dismisal of Shakeel meant the coffin was sealed and nailed.
But as the greats would say, all is not lost till the last ball is bowled. Entered Shafi, in his usual lazy but flamboyant way (with
cigaratte on his lips even just before the first step into the ground) and things never looked back for Eagles from there on.
While Ali was specially classic with his "all along the ground drives", Shafi decided to take the arieal route. Both played some
exquisite shots and the score board started ticking first and later sprinted. An elegant drive to the cover boundry by Ali and a
short arm pull, almost straight over the bowlers head for six, by Shafi sent a clear cut message to the opposite team that the
Eagle has risen. And they did rise with a 65 runs quick partnership. While Jigar, Shiv, Peter and Bikram was getting used and
immunised to a foul smell at the pavilion (Jigar had also started liking it), the other team members urged these four to join
them near the toilet end where they said it was much better !!!!!!! God knows how and why.
While, whether this request to have all the team members together was a strategic move by the captain or not will be
discussed later, this certainly changed the atmosphere within the team. It was decided that we will play out the entire 40
overs and make UCC sweat for wicket. Though the fall of Shafi was a blow, Ali continued his lazy elegance and was inching
towards his maiden 50 of this year. However his laziness got better of him and was the nemisis of his innings when a loose
shot costed him his wicket and missed a much deserved 50. Bikram and Shiv contined to move the score and put on a 40 runs
partnership before a bad "shot selection" costed shiv his wicket. Bikram continued his innings without any trouble and
alongwith Peter put another 25 un partnership. After Peter's dismisal thru an unwanted runout, Sharat and Bikram saw the
team thru to the 40 th overs. A valuable 40 runs last wicket partnership between Sharat and Bikram ended the Eagle's
innings at respecteble 218 with 4 balls to spare.
Bikram's 54 and small crucial partnerships with the tail enders clearly made him the laureate. One has to take a leaf out of his
innings to understand how staying in the middle will eventually give you runs. Bikram did just that.
With 217 on the board, Eagle was a new team altogether. The opening pair of Mahmood and Kalid bowled a discliped line
.While Mahmood was particularly frugal in run giving, mixing his slower ones with bouncers intelligently, Khalid kept his off
stick line very consistently. With the introduction of Shafi and Sharat, wickets started falling and United was reduced 100 for 4
in 20 overs. But with Veerapan and Chandika still to go, there was enough of word of caution within the team. Chandika's
dropped catch by Shiv did not favour him too long when Ahbishek'd deceiving yorker castled his wicket. With Chandika gone,
the preasure was mounting on Veerapan to let his arm loose. A brillinat pick up and throw of his own bowling by Abhiskesh
saw the return of half of the side of United. An intelligent slower one by Mahmood to Punter and a clever field placing for
Shafi's bowling saw the dangerous Virappan go back to the pavilion.
With 159 for 7 in 30, Eagle thought they had it in their pocket. The spirit was so high that Eagle deffered the interlard twice
and wanted to go alongwith the game without any intervals. However cricket is a funny game and "it aint over till its over".
Though United were loosing wickets at regular intervals , Eagles were giving them hope of a victory by some loose bowling,
extras and one or two sloppy fields. With scents of victory on either side, the preasure was building up at both ends and it
could be any one's game. This took the game to the last over with last wicket and 9 runs to win. The old horse Sharath was
given the bowl to end the game. The first ball four reduced the target to 5 in 5 and one could hear heartbeats and nail clipping
all over. But Sharath had other ideas. With a cool head on his shoulders, the next five balls were dot balls and there by giving
Eagles their first win of the season in the longer verison of the game.
A very hard fought game and as is said "fortune favours the brave" and Eagles ended up being brave. Personally I would not
like to have another one of these nerve cracking matches.
All is not won now and this is only a beginning. Keep the head on the shoulders still and march ahead thru out the season.
A very special thanks to our scorer who I am sure might have had a tough time sitting alone at their pavilion
True.... And it was reflected on Sunday's match betwen Eagles and United. With fortunes fluctuating over to over, it was left
to the few nerves of steel to overcome the trapidation of the match.
A beautiful sunday morning and a good entertaning cricket was all everyone asked for.
The Eagle Captain's decision to bat first was not initially supported well by his team mates, when the score book read 33 for 5
in 8 overs. There was a certain amount of "20/20 game effect" rubbing on to the players as everyone seems to be in a hurry
playing shots and getting out.
Punter's slow dipping yorker sealed the fate of Mahmood as his castle was rocked in the second ball of the game. The in-form
and dependeble Jigar was out the very next bowl when a questional LBW decison was given. But no amount of justification
can be given when a batsman plays across. The captain Khalid joined the young Abhishk and the team was looking forward
to a real good partnership from these two experienced players to sail the ship thru the wreck. However a loose shot from
Khalid saw his fall and this was indeed a major blow to the team - both morally and statistically.
Ali joined Abhishek and now it was upto the young guns of the team to exhibit what they are capable of. And they did to a
great extend till Abhishek played across the line to give the umpire have another chance to raise his index finger. The first ball
dismisal of Shakeel meant the coffin was sealed and nailed.
But as the greats would say, all is not lost till the last ball is bowled. Entered Shafi, in his usual lazy but flamboyant way (with
cigaratte on his lips even just before the first step into the ground) and things never looked back for Eagles from there on.
While Ali was specially classic with his "all along the ground drives", Shafi decided to take the arieal route. Both played some
exquisite shots and the score board started ticking first and later sprinted. An elegant drive to the cover boundry by Ali and a
short arm pull, almost straight over the bowlers head for six, by Shafi sent a clear cut message to the opposite team that the
Eagle has risen. And they did rise with a 65 runs quick partnership. While Jigar, Shiv, Peter and Bikram was getting used and
immunised to a foul smell at the pavilion (Jigar had also started liking it), the other team members urged these four to join
them near the toilet end where they said it was much better !!!!!!! God knows how and why.
While, whether this request to have all the team members together was a strategic move by the captain or not will be
discussed later, this certainly changed the atmosphere within the team. It was decided that we will play out the entire 40
overs and make UCC sweat for wicket. Though the fall of Shafi was a blow, Ali continued his lazy elegance and was inching
towards his maiden 50 of this year. However his laziness got better of him and was the nemisis of his innings when a loose
shot costed him his wicket and missed a much deserved 50. Bikram and Shiv contined to move the score and put on a 40 runs
partnership before a bad "shot selection" costed shiv his wicket. Bikram continued his innings without any trouble and
alongwith Peter put another 25 un partnership. After Peter's dismisal thru an unwanted runout, Sharat and Bikram saw the
team thru to the 40 th overs. A valuable 40 runs last wicket partnership between Sharat and Bikram ended the Eagle's
innings at respecteble 218 with 4 balls to spare.
Bikram's 54 and small crucial partnerships with the tail enders clearly made him the laureate. One has to take a leaf out of his
innings to understand how staying in the middle will eventually give you runs. Bikram did just that.
With 217 on the board, Eagle was a new team altogether. The opening pair of Mahmood and Kalid bowled a discliped line
.While Mahmood was particularly frugal in run giving, mixing his slower ones with bouncers intelligently, Khalid kept his off
stick line very consistently. With the introduction of Shafi and Sharat, wickets started falling and United was reduced 100 for 4
in 20 overs. But with Veerapan and Chandika still to go, there was enough of word of caution within the team. Chandika's
dropped catch by Shiv did not favour him too long when Ahbishek'd deceiving yorker castled his wicket. With Chandika gone,
the preasure was mounting on Veerapan to let his arm loose. A brillinat pick up and throw of his own bowling by Abhiskesh
saw the return of half of the side of United. An intelligent slower one by Mahmood to Punter and a clever field placing for
Shafi's bowling saw the dangerous Virappan go back to the pavilion.
With 159 for 7 in 30, Eagle thought they had it in their pocket. The spirit was so high that Eagle deffered the interlard twice
and wanted to go alongwith the game without any intervals. However cricket is a funny game and "it aint over till its over".
Though United were loosing wickets at regular intervals , Eagles were giving them hope of a victory by some loose bowling,
extras and one or two sloppy fields. With scents of victory on either side, the preasure was building up at both ends and it
could be any one's game. This took the game to the last over with last wicket and 9 runs to win. The old horse Sharath was
given the bowl to end the game. The first ball four reduced the target to 5 in 5 and one could hear heartbeats and nail clipping
all over. But Sharath had other ideas. With a cool head on his shoulders, the next five balls were dot balls and there by giving
Eagles their first win of the season in the longer verison of the game.
A very hard fought game and as is said "fortune favours the brave" and Eagles ended up being brave. Personally I would not
like to have another one of these nerve cracking matches.
All is not won now and this is only a beginning. Keep the head on the shoulders still and march ahead thru out the season.
A very special thanks to our scorer who I am sure might have had a tough time sitting alone at their pavilion
